Celtics team news: Ben Sullivan joins Ime Udoka’s coaching staff

Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach Ben Sullivan will join Ime Udoka’s coaching staff with the Boston Celtics. After being hired by the Bucks organization in 2018, Sullivan helped coach the team to their first NBA championship win since the 1970-71 season. The six-foot-ten former international player also helped Milwaukee to finish 46-26 (.639) last season, ranking first in the Central Division and third overall in the Eastern Conference. He was nicknamed the team’s “shooting guru.” Prior to joining head coach Mike Budenholzer’s coaching staff, he was an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks (2014-18) .

Plus, Sullivan adds to the list of current Portland natives on the Celtics coaching staff. He joins former Saint Mary’s and National Basketball League (NBL) player Garrett Jackson, former Golden State Warriors assistant coach Aaron Miles and former Memphis Grizzlies assistant coach Damon Stoudamire. Moreover, Sullivan attended California State University, Northridge and the University of Portland. As a Portland Pilot, he qualified for WCC All-Academic Team selection for three consecutive seasons (2005-07). In 117 games played in college, he averaged 6.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.

Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach Ben Sullivan has agreed to a deal to join Ime Udoka’s new coaching staff with the Boston Celtics, sources tell ESPN. Sullivan is another in a long line of well-regarded Mike Budenholzer assistants.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 6, 2021

After graduating from the University of Portland, Sullivan worked as a video intern in San Antonio, Texas, studying NBA film and analyzing basketball players. Additionally, on June 2, 2021, Danny Ainge retired as president of basketball operations for the Celtics. Head coach Brad Stevens was then promoted to the vacant position on the same day. Furthermore, head coach Ime Udoka, Boston’s 18th head coach in franchise history, is currently in Tokyo, Japan helping head coach Gregg Popovich and Team USA to win their fourth-consecutive gold medal. The gold-medal match against Team France airs tonight at 10:30 p.m. (EST) on NBC.

On June 23, 2021, Coach Udoka, the seven-year NBA veteran, was hired by the Celtics organization. Udoka served as one of the Brooklyn Nets’ assistant coaches for the 2020-21 season. Not to mention, multiple coaches on Boston’s coaching staff have a history of working with San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich. The soon-to-be 44-year-old head coach is a former Spurs assistant coach and small forward. He was an assistant coach for the Spurs from 2012 to 2019. Udoka also hired former Spurs assistant coach Will Hardy, who spent the past four years in San Antonio under Coach Popovich.